LUKE HAS TAKEN A HUGE STEP UP
April: Shaw’s commitment is a long way behind team-mates September: He has to improve January: One of best in world!
JOSE MOURINHO hailed Luke Shaw as one of the world’s best left-backs – but warned the Manchester United star he cannot allow his level to drop.
Shaw, who has started United’s last five games and is set to keep his place for today’s trip to Burnley, has won over manager Mourinho after it looked as though his United career was over.
The 22-year-old England international, whose rebirth has raised his hopes of going to the World Cup this summer, did not feature in the Premier League until mid-December.
Mourinho publicly questioned Shaw’s focus and physical condition on more than one occasion, with Daley Blind, Ashley Young and Matteo Darmian all moving ahead of him in the left-back pecking order.
Shaw, who joined United for £27million from Southampton in 2014, saw his stock plummet and was linked with a return to his former club, as well as Tottenham, with Danny Rose going the other way.
But United’s interest in Rose appears to be on hold, after Shaw regained Mourinho’s trust and proved he has what it takes to be United’s long-term solution at leftback.
“Luke has done very well,” said Mourinho.
“He was already improving and playing well when I started playing him after that long spell without minutes.
“I remember the first time he played in the Champions League against CSKA Moscow, he was coming step by step.
“Now, with a good run of matches and also with continuity and playing like he did, for example against Everton, two days after a match against Southampton.
“He was good, solid, physically much better, mentally much stronger, tactically understanding much better the game and what we need from him in the different phases and circumstances.
“So I’m really happy. I can say in this moment, I don’t see many left-backs better than this Luke Shaw.”
Mourinho emphasised the word “this”, a stark warning for Shaw not to fall back into the bad old habits that saw him exiled from the first-team for such a prolonged period.
Shaw lacked the necessary focus, both on and off the field,
according to Mourinho, but has now acquired that discipline, leading to his longest run for United since the beginning of last season.
A horrific leg break, suffered in United’s opening Champions League group game of the 201516 season at PSV Eindhoven, saw Shaw miss the rest of that campaign and proved a huge setback.
But his strength of character has seen him re-establish himself at United, with Shaw now eyeing a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Russia this summer.
Shaw admitted: “Body-wise and fitness-wise I probably feel the best I’ve ever felt.
“Mentally I feel strong as well and I’m enjoying my football.
“There’s a lot to play for, with the World Cup as well.
“If I can, then hopefully I’ll state my case to go to the World Cup.
“I had a taste of it in Brazil and it was amazing.”